The Tyrant Master Huang

West of the village, a small courtyard with earthen walls.

In the corner stood two steel forks and some rope snares; this was the home of a hunter.

An oil lamp cast a shadow on the window paper. The man leaned against the head of the bed, while the woman opened a chest and took something out.

"Husband, I'll go to Pingding City tomorrow to find a doctor."

"This silver hairpin is an heirloom of the Wang family. You've been married to me for ten years, and I haven't given you any decent jewelry. How can you still use... cough cough..."

Before the man could finish speaking, he coughed violently.

The woman patted his back, her voice choked with sobs, "Are the things more important, or is the person more important? If your injury isn't treated, and something happens to you, how will my two children and I live? Can this family still hold on?"

The man's voice was filled with despair, "It's all my fault for being useless. I'm sorry to you, and I'm sorry to Liyu."

The woman was silent for a long time, then said sadly, "This is fate. People can't fight fate. Liyu doesn't believe it. He wanted to go out and wander the jianghu. He was finally starting to make some progress... but he lost to fate. Liyu ultimately didn't leap over the Dragon Gate."

"It's all my fault for being useless. Liyu is gone, the Wang family's ancestral home couldn't be saved, and even my sister-in-law..."

"Husband, let's not argue anymore! Let's never argue again. Heaven has eyes, good and evil will be rewarded. The Huang family will get their comeuppance. If we raise this child, it will be like leaving a lineage for my brother."

The man's coughing did not stop. Because they had no money to hire a doctor, the wound on his leg had festered.

A figure leaped over the earthen wall and landed in the courtyard.

He strode forward, kicked open the wooden door, and rushed in.

The woman looked in terror at the raised steel saber, and the first thing she did was pick up the two sleeping children.

"Who are you?" Li Hu asked, his voice trembling. He had a vague guess, but still held onto a sliver of hope.

The masked man in black said, "Master Huang sent me to take all your lives. Li Hu, the wronged have their accusers, the debts have their debtors. When you get to the Hall of the King of Hell, remember not to give the wrong name."

Upon hearing the name 'Master Huang,' the woman was both scared and angry. "The land deed has already been given to the Huang family. What else does he want?"

The crippled man struggled to sit up, shielding his wife and children behind him.

If his leg hadn't been broken, he could have picked up a steel fork and fought the intruder. Now, he could barely stand, completely defenseless.

It was one thing for him to die, but how could he bear to let his wife, children, and his infant nephew die tragically by the blade?

"Good sir, good sir, it was I who argued with Master Huang, I who offended him. Kill me, kill me, and let the woman and children go. This has nothing to do with them. Have mercy, show some kindness, and I will die by your blade without complaint."

The masked man sneered, "Li Hu, a good man known throughout the ten-mile radius, a good hunter. Weren't you very capable? Weren't you going to report Master Huang to the Sun Moon Divine Cult's Cloud Water Hall? Now you know to beg for mercy. Why did you have to be the first bird then? Master Huang said that if you don't cut the weeds at the root, there will be endless trouble. He's suffered once, and he won't suffer a second time."

Wang Meiduo held the two children tightly in her arms, tears streaming down her face. "When Liyu came back, you sweet-talked him, and he didn't dwell on Huang Wencai's crime of seizing the Wang family's ancestral property. Now that he's dead outside, why must you... why must you be so cruel?"

"As expected of Wang Liyu's sister, you do have some insight. You're right. When Wang Liyu became a Flag Master of the Sun Moon Divine Cult, Master Huang was terrified during those few days he was back. He was already preparing to pack his gold and silver and flee. Who would have thought Wang Liyu was so easily fooled? Hahaha..."

Wang Meiduo said angrily, "Is there no law or justice in this world?"

The masked man in black laughed wildly, "In Meixi Village, Master Huang is the law, he is justice. Are you only finding out today?"

The woman pointed at the masked man and cursed, "You will be punished. The Huang family will be punished..."

The masked man saw that she was around thirty years old, wearing a simple hairpin and cloth dress. Her appearance was somewhat haggard, but she still had some beauty, and her temperament was so fierce. He suddenly felt a surge of heat within him.

"Good, I'll kill your husband first, and then we can talk slowly. We'll have a long talk all night."

A cold light flashed, and the steel saber was about to fall.

Clang! The sound of metal striking metal.

The steel saber was instantly knocked away, falling to the ground.

The masked man's tiger's mouth went numb, and he was forced back repeatedly by the immense force. First, he saw a plain black sword flash by, and then a young man appeared in the room like a ghost, standing beside him. His eyes were extremely cold, staring at him as if he were looking at a dead man.

The masked man exclaimed in terror, "Are... are you human or ghost?"

How could there be such a fast sword, such fast footwork? He had also studied martial arts at a school, learning some boxing, kicking, and staff techniques, before being taken in by Master Huang as the head of his guards.

But he knew that under the sword of the man before him, he wouldn't even have a chance to resist.

The young man said softly, "I am human, but you will soon be a ghost."

Li Hu had already closed his eyes, ready to die. Suddenly, he saw another person appear in the room, holding a sword, seemingly at odds with the killer sent by the Huang family. A sliver of hope arose in his heart.

Wang Meiduo looked at the young swordsman's back, feeling a sense of familiarity.

The young man raised his black sword and placed it at the masked man's neck.

"I ask, you answer."

The masked man immediately surrendered, knelt down, and begged for mercy, "This humble one will tell you everything. I beg the great hero to spare my life."

"Where did Wang Liyu's three houses go?"

"Master Huang had people level them. At that time, the villagers said that Wang Liyu was successful because his ancestors chose a house with good feng shui. Huang... Huang Wencai became interested and wanted to take it for himself, to bring good fortune to the Huang family descendants."

"Where is Wang Liyu's wife?"

"She's dead. But... I didn't kill her. Huang Wencai wanted to take her as his seventh concubine, but she refused and killed herself. Her body was buried on Plum Blossom Ridge."

"How many guards does the Huang family have now?"

"Fifteen or sixteen guards, all know some martial arts. Great hero, I can lead the way. I can also tell you where the Huang family's gold and silver treasures are stored. If you spare my life, you can definitely use me."

"Where is Master Huang tonight?"

"Three miles outside the village, by the Plum Blossom Stream, there's a manor. Master Huang is there, and all his guards are inside the manor. Great hero, two fists can't beat four hands. I can trick those guards out one by one for you to kill, making it easier to break into the manor."

The masked man was clever. He guessed that the man before him either had a grudge against the Huang family or was indebted to the Wang family. In any case, Master Huang, the local emperor of Meixi Village, was in big trouble, and the Huang family's days of tyranny were likely numbered.

He secretly observed while stealthily tucking his hands into his sleeves.

"You can go."

"Great hero, you're letting me go?"

"Hurry up and scram!"

The masked man had just brushed past death's door. Overjoyed, he repeatedly thanked the man before quickly fleeing outside.

Zhang Yu took two steps forward and hooked the iron saber that had fallen on the ground, kicking it away.

Puchi!

The man had just run out of the doorway when he froze. He looked down to see the tip of the saber piercing through his chest and abdomen, emerging like the scarlet tongue of a venomous snake.

He didn't feel any pain, but his strength seemed to drain away in an instant. The dagger hidden in his sleeve fell out, and his body immediately collapsed to the ground.

He had killed many people, but this was the first time he experienced the feeling of being killed.